Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Prepares to Rock Universal

Roller coasters enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Orlando, the newest attraction to be added to the park since The Simpsons Ride. And though they’ll have to wait a little while longer – the coaster’s opening has been delayed until this summer with the earliest opening likely in June – we’ve got a few extra juicy details on the Rip Ride Rockit to tide everyone over until then.

We’ve already mentioned on this blog that the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (HRRR) will be one of the most technologically advanced coasters in Orlando, with the ability to choose the ride’s soundtrack before boarding, watch your experience on video after riding, and even edit and send that video to friends. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this exciting new coaster, which will feature plenty of moves and maneuvers that are sure to get your heart pumping.

First, the HRRR, once completed, will be the tallest, largest, and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. Having an X-CAR vehicle – which is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative, less restrictive restraints – makes the HRRR capable of moves other coasters aren’t. It also allows for more vehicles on the track, ensuring a whirl of non-stop movement.

Some of that movement takes place during six special maneuvers on the HRRR, three of which have never been built before. Those include the Double Take, the world’s first non-inverted loop; the Treble-Clef, where the track bends to form the shape of the musical symbol by the same name, and the Jump Cut, a spiraling negative-gravity move. Other fun maneuvers to look forward to on the Rockit include a 17-story high vertical lift, a drop into an underground chasm, and an inclined loop with a 150-degree banking turn. Riders will also get to soar 33 feet above the ground at a 95 degree angle over the crowd as they wait in the ride’s queue.

Here’s a fun fact – the HRRR features 3,800 feet of steel track, and believe it or not, work first began on it not in the US, but in Munich, Germany last summer. More than 60 sections of track and 200 columns were completed overseas, then packaged into 120 containers and loaded onto ships for transport to the US. They arrived in Savannah, Georgia and then made the trip by road to Orlando, where they were placed in a holding area so the build-out could begin.

Now, it’s just a matter of waiting while the track is completed, and almost all of it is in place. In the meantime, we suggest planning your Universal Studios vacation as a way to pass the time and get excited for the park’s newest and most exhilarating roller coaster yet. Start by looking at the discount Universal Studios tickets on DWTickets.com to begin preparing for your first ride on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

All Ears is the Fashion at Walt Disney World

If you love Walt Disney World, chances are you have a pair of Mickey Mouse ears stashed away in a closet in your home somewhere. The ultimate souvenir of any Disney vacation, Mouse ears have been a way to show camaraderie with Mickey since their creation in the 1950s. Originally, the ears were rather simple, made of black felt covering large plastic ears. But today, Disney lovers can show their personality through Mickey ears in a wide range of styles. There’s a pair for everyone, and it’s even easier to find them now at a new boutique at Downtown Disney.

Guests can find the perfect set of ears at a new Create Your Own Ears Hat boutique, located inside Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Downtown Disney Marketplace. There, Mickey fans can design their own ear keepsakes to reflect their particular style and personality using a wide variety of hat bases and ear adornments.

“For the first time, guests can take our traditional, iconic Mickey Mouse Ears – made famous in the 1950s with the Mickey Mouse Club - and customize them,” said Dara Trujillo, merchandise manager at Walt Disney World Resort. “Not only is this a unique product offering, but every set will be different, just like our guests.”

Hat bases come in 19 colors, including purple satin, blue velvet, and glow-in-the-dark green (perfect for standing out during dark Disney attractions). Guests can also choose from 19 additional varieties of snap-on ears, adorned with everything from metallic accents to rhinestones to fur. Hats can even have two completely different-looking kinds of ears for a really unique look. Finally, ear designers can add the finishing touch with character patches, letters, stickers, and embroidery, perhaps representing a favorite Disney character, Disney princess, or Disney Channel show.

Interestingly, Mouse ears were first created by Roy Williams, an adult Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club. He was inspired by the 1929 short The Karnival Kid, which features a scene where Mickey tips his ears to Minnie. Today, Mouse ears come in all shapes and sizes and can even be tailored for special occasions - such as bride and groom Mouse ears! With so many base, ear, and decoration combinations possible, everyone can find a pair perfectly suited to their own personal style.

The new Create Your Own Ears boutique joins its sister shop that opened last summer at Magic Kingdom. Prices vary based on the add-ons, but a basic hat (consisting of a base, two ears, and a chin strip) starts at $7.50. Hats are one-size-fits-all but can be adjusted to fit smaller guests using the chin strap.

To get your own special set of Mouse ears, be sure to visit the new boutique at Downtown Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories. And don’t forget to rock them the next time you visit Walt Disney World for a stylish day at the parks. Get your Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com to begin your Mickey ear-adorned adventure.

Get Closer to Your Favorite Animals with SeaWorld Tours

If you want to go get up close and personal with marine animals, go behind the scenes to meet a penguin, and plunge into the realm of the shark, chances are that a regular trip to SeaWorld Orlando just isn’t going to do it for you. But don’t fret! Those who want to experience the Orlando theme park in a truly unique way can try one of SeaWorld’s brand new tours. Perfect for those who have seen and done everything at the park or want a truly memorable trip out of their visit, these new 2009 tours blend adventure and education into an amazing day of fun with the animals.

First, there’s nothing like getting a close look at the inner workings of SeaWorld on the Behind-the-Scenes Tour. On the tour, guests will visit SeaWorld’s Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, explore a polar bear’s hidden den, come inches away from a penguin, and interact with a small shark. Best yet, ten percent of each tour admission is donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

For dolphin and penguin fans, SeaWorld offers the Dolphin Spotlight and the Penguin Spotlight tours. The first offers the opportunity to learn from SeaWorld’s animal care specialists about what it’s like to work with dolphins. Guests will go backstage to the Whale & Dolphin Stadium and witness training sessions with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Then they’ll get to practice what they saw at SeaWorld’s Dolphin Cove during a special training session.

During the Penguin Spotlight, guests will meet some of SeaWorld’s amazing puffins and penguins. They’ll learn about caring for these amazing birds from aviculture experts while exploring SeaWorld’s Penguin Encounter.

And for extra special visitors to SeaWorld, there’s the VIP Tour and the Elite VIP Tour. On the former, guests will embark on exhilarating thrill rides, enjoy spectacular shows and find out what it’s like to feed dolphins, sting rays, and sea lions. They’ll even get close to everyone’s favorite killer whale during Dine with Shamu, a poolside lunch.

On the Elite VIP tour, similar fun abounds with Manta, SeaWorld’s new flying coaster set to open May 22. Guests will get splashed by an 11,000 pound whale, encounter amazing animals, and meet a tuxedo clad penguin. The day finishes with dinner at the Sharks Underwater Grill.

But that’s not all; SeaWorld also offers Animal Connection Programs, which offer incredible opportunities to interact with amazing animals and experience up-close encounters. There’s the Beluga Interaction Program, which allows guests to step into the Wild Arctic’s chilly 55 degree water and come face-to-face with the beluga whale, and the Sharks Deep Dive, which puts guests into a wet suit and a Sea Trek helmet and plunges them underwater for a close encounter with more than 30 sharks.

All these amazing tours and programs require an additional ticket and can be reserved via SeaWorld’s website. However, SeaWorld admission isn’t included in that ticket and is required. So if you want to experience SeaWorld in a whole new way while saving money, be sure to visit DWTickets.com for discount SeaWorld tickets. And check out the park’s behind-the-scenes adventures and animal encounters for an adventure you’ll never forget.

Gather 'Round the Bonfire at Disney's Grand Floridian

There’s no denying that Walt Disney World is a family friendly place. But after enjoying all the attractions and experiences of Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, many may wonder what’s left for families to enjoy after they retreat to their hotels from the parks. Thankfully, Disney resorts have got you covered with a variety of fun activities to enjoy when your day at the parks is done.

For example, at the elegant Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, families can indulge in a sweet new experience under the stars. In addition to the other activities available at the resort, families are now able to enjoy a little old fashioned fun by roasting marshmallows around a Mickey-shaped campfire. Every evening around 8 pm (the time changes seasonally), guests can gather to roast and snack, gaze at the stars, and sing favorite camp tunes on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon.

Meanwhile, the moonlit beach will also serve as an outdoor movie theater as a different family-friendly Disney film is shown on a portable screen every night. S’more kits and marshmallows are available for purchase during the campfire and movie.

Families can also enjoy campfire fun at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where Chip and Dale join in on the fun, and a different movie is shown than the one at the Grand Floridian.

Not only are these activities perfectly timed for enjoying after a day at the parks, but they’re free! The Grand Floridian also hosts a daily Wonderland Tea Party from 1:30 to 2:30 pm every weekday, with Alice and her curious friends gathering to enjoy a spot of tea - with guests, of course. And great for a bit of fun before heading off to the parks, the resort’s 1900 Park Fare hosts a character breakfast in the morning with Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Pinocchio, and Geppetto.

In addition, the hotel offers various forms of outdoor recreation like tennis, golf, a jogging trail, and watercraft rentals. Hanging at Gasparailla’s Grill & Games is another fun post-park activity, as the quick-service restaurant offers a game room filled with classic arcade favorites and the latest video games.

And if parents want to enjoy a night on their own, they can leave kids in the care of the Mouseketeer Club, a supervised activity center that entertains the little ones with arts and crafts, computer games, Disney movies, and dinner and snacks.

But ultimately, you’ll want to gather the whole family together for bonfire nights at the Grand Floridian; it’s a fun way to end the day and will definitely serve as a great memory of your Walt Disney World vacation. In order to plan said vacation, check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com. And don’t forget to pack some marshmallows.

End the Day with Your Favorite Characters at Animal Kingdom

With so many birds and beasts at Animal Kingdom, from the cotton top tamarins to the Komodo dragons, it can be easy to forgo one little mouse - even though he’s the mouse that started it all - in favor of exciting attractions and rides like Everest. Keeping that in mind, Disney has now created a way for guests to get their dose of character fun right before they leave the park for the day, so they won’t have to miss out on a bit of playtime with their two favorite mice.

“When guests come out of the park, they are absolutely determined to see our characters,” said Chris Ambrose, general manager of entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That led Disney to launch Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering, a new interactive experience near Animal Kingdom’s entrance each night during park closing.

The Gathering features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy wearing their khaki best and sending off guests in a music-filled celebration. Cast members shake their pom poms and urge guests to join in a street-party atmosphere by dancing to the music and forming a conga line, while Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy shake a tail feather atop their safari vehicle.

“We’ve created a way for our guests to experience our characters…and it’s a way for us to have a fun, exciting way to end the day at Animal Kingdom,” Ambrose said.

The Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering happens at park close (which varies from day to day but is usually 6, 7, or 8 pm) and lasts about fifteen minutes.

If you want to leave the park before closing, though, the Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering is only one of several character experiences throughout the day at Animal Kingdom. One of the best times to see all your Disney friends is during Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, which takes place mid-day and features popular characters paying tribute to their animal friends. This fifteen-minute long procession loops through the various areas of Animal Kingdom and is led by Rafiki of The Lion King, who rides a brightly painted Adventure Rover in front of Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy, who each ride in customized Jeeps.

Guests can also generally find Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Timon, and other friends along the Camp Minnie-Mickey Greeting Trails, which has a trail for each Disney character. Character greetings also take place at random spots throughout the park – you never know who you’ll find waiting to meet you at Animal Kingdom!

So next time you visit this fun and wild Disney theme park, make sure you stay late for the best part - a little fun with the Disney characters you grew up with. They’re waiting to party with you now, so check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com to hang out with the creatures – of all kinds – at Animal Kingdom.

Get Eco-Friendly with Disney's EARTH

Usually, making an effort to help the environment requires getting out in a park and picking up trash, chaining yourself to a tree, or some other kind of active endeavor. But now, Disney is offering those who want to be environmentally friendlier a fun and easy way to make a difference. For every person who sees the new EARTH film during its opening week, Disney will plant a tree in their honor. EARTH premieres nationally on April 22 and is the first film by Disneynature, the first new film label to be introduced by Disney in 60 years.

“EARTH is a spectacular film from the world’s most acclaimed nature filmmakers, and we couldn’t think of a better way to launch the new Disneynature banner, and to celebrate the spirit of the film and Earth Day at the same time,” said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “The film gives moviegoers an entertaining and unprecedented view of our planet, with some of the most astonishing imagery and exciting natural drama ever presented on the big screen.”

Many may not realize that one of Walt Disney’s dreams was to create nature documentaries. From 1948 to 1960, his True Life Adventure series won eight Academy Awards by chronicling the antics of real animals.

EARTH now seeks to revitalize Disney’s dream by telling the remarkable story of three animal families (polar bears, elephants in the tropics, and humpback whales) and their amazing journeys across the planet. Narrated by James Earl Jones, the film features rare action, unimaginable scale, and impossible locations to combine Disney storytelling with nature documentary.

People can learn more about EARTH at Epcot, where the International Flower & Garden Festival features a display about the movie inside Garden Town. Outside, there’s also an impressive sand sculpture dedicated to the film.

Once the movie has completed its opening week, Disney will tally up the number of moviegoers and plant one tree for every one of them in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which is considered the most endangered rain forest in the world. A hot spot of biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest is struggling for survival with only seven percent of it remaining.

So if you’d like to make an easy contribution to the environment and see a great film at the same time, be sure to check out EARTH when it opens on Earth Day, April 22. The film will be playing at Downtown Disney, of course, at the AMC 24 Theatres Complex on Pleasure Island. We especially recommend enjoying the film there in the luxury of loveseat-style stadium seating with the awesome quality of THX Surround Sound and Sony Dynamic Digital Sound.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to visit Epcot, where you can learn new ways to be ‘green’ in your garden at home and see cool photographs of Disneynature’s EARTH before the movie comes out. As always, save on your Disney adventures with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.

Shamu Joins the Twitter Community

It is the latest craze that has swallowed up your favorite actors, politicians, and John Mayer. And now, even a star of SeaWorld Orlando has jumped on the bandwagon known as Twitter. Shamu, the black and white orca making a daily splash at the Orlando theme park, began posting to the free social network/micro-blogging community last week, and he’s already attracted close to 1,000 followers. In addition to clicks, squeaks, whistles, and trills, it would seem that the killer whale can also communicate via tweets, and he’s done plenty of that on a variety of topics.

“It turns out Shamu has a lot to say,” said Joe Couceiro, Chief Marketing Officer for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corp. “We knew he was a very popular whale, but I’m not sure anyone knew just how many subjects he held opinions on.”

Writing under the handle “RealShamu,” Shamu has twittered on topics such as Moroccan tree goats, Brazilian soccer teams, pubs in the English countryside, and the paint scheme on Southwest Airlines planes. The killer whale also disseminates a healthy dose of information about whale life, in addition to geography, anatomy, architecture, current events, history, and even punctuation. Who knew Shamu was so smart?

The killer whale has also shown himself to have a quick wit, too, commenting frequently on the overratedness of dolphins – a species he characterizes as “all hat and no cattle.”

And how, you might wonder, can a massive 8,000-pound whale with no discernible fingers to speak of type and make posts on Twitter?

“I have assistants, as you would expect of a whale of my stature,” Shamu has said to the often-posed question. Shamu also added that saltwater was detrimental to computers and cellphones, making human assistants particularly necessary.

Since signing on to Twitter, the killer whale has received a variety of questions from SeaWorld fans. For example, when recently asked if he likes to eat lobsters, Shamu declined via Twitter and explained, “They’re pinchy.”

In addition to being a way for the voice of SeaWorld to communicate with fans, Twitter is an interactive and unique new form of marketing for the park. Couceiro states that the online network is even allowing SeaWorld to enhance guests’ experiences in the park. “We’ve had visitors tweet with suggestions, problems, questions, photos, video, even jokes for Shamu – while they’re inside SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, or Busch Gardens."

Still, Shamu doesn’t spend all his time on Twitter. When he’s not communicating with his online friends, Shamu can be seen daily in SeaWorld’s revolutionary production, “Believe.” Taking place on an elaborate 3-story set, “Believe” features Shamu and the entire SeaWorld family of majestic killer whales performing awe-inspiring choreography with an original musical score by the Prague National Symphony Orchestra.

Guests can also get up close and personal with Shamu during Dine With Shamu, a VIP experience where they can eat alongside killer whales, dine with Shamu trainers, ask questions, and observe training sessions in an exclusive themed area.

To read Shamu’s latest nugget of whale wisdom, check out Twitter.com/RealShamu. And don’t forget to purchase discount SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com to meet your favorite orca in person and witness his amazing talents. Just be careful not to mention dolphins to him.

Meet the Ferocious Yeti on Expedition Everest

You have ignored the museum curator’s warnings and decided to venture on with your expedition to Everest via a railway car – or at least, that’s the back story that Disney has set up while you’re waiting on line for Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. But as you’ve begun your ascent of the towering Forbidden Mountain, your heart begins to pound as the ride comes to a dead end, then ascends into darkness! Things take a turn for the thrilling as you’re shot through narrow caves only to come face to face with the master of the mountain – the ferocious and mysterious yeti. And suddenly, you don’t quite feel like you’re on a ride anymore as you scream out of genuine excitement.

The pièce de résistance of Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest is most certainly the beastly yeti, and this masterpiece of Disney Imagineering is surely one of Walt Disney World’s best products of technology and storytelling yet. And though guests certainly aren’t thinking about what it took to create the yeti when he’s swiping at them on Expedition Everest, it took four years for Disney Imagineers to bring the creature to life.

The process started with a little help from Disney animators, who sketched more than a hundred unique designs of what the Himalayan legend might look like. Meanwhile, Imagineers consulted Dr. Stuart Sumida, professor of biology, for a realistic idea of how the yeti would move and stand. The team of Imagineers also sorted through legendary sources and current descriptions of the yeti from local people in Nepal and the Himalayas. Of the course of several months, a clear concept of the yeti emerged: it would be similar in size to a giant ape from prehistoric times with a skull modified from the Asian langur monkey, facial features and fangs of the golden monkey, and brownish fur and hair.

The next step was actually crafting the yeti, and that began with a rough sculpture molded by principal designer Doug Griffith. He also developed a computer model with engineers and programmers to determine how the yeti would move inside Expedition Everest. Once a final design was decided on, sculptor Scott Goddard worked on a detailed miniature sculpture of the yeti.

After getting the approval of Creative Executives, the miniature yeti was tagged with laser markers and scanned into the computer. From this file, a life-size foam version of the yeti was milled, which was then coated with a sealer to create a mold. Out of that mold, a final fiberglass cast of the creature was created and fitted with joints, pneumatics, and access panels. After days of work, a massive figure surrounding a skeleton of steel was complete and ready for programming and wardrobe.

Before the figure was created, specialists had spent over two years creating more than 100 computer animation tests. They finally got to work with the actual yeti in a full size production facility testing out subtle head turns, arm tilts, and blinking eyes. Once the mechanics were set, the yeti was put through his paces for hours on end. Meanwhile, costume designers worked to carefully craft his coat – a blend of yak, horse hair, and synthetics. Teeth and nails made from acrylic were molded and stained to look aged and yellow, and the yeti was given a nice coat of paint, mud, and even dirt between his toes to make him look authentic.

Though most riding Expedition Everest won’t notice all the detail, the Imagineers’ efforts are clearly worth it with every realistic move the yeti makes. So next time you ride this great attraction, be sure to marvel at the Himalayan legend – when you’re not screaming, that is. Check out Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com to begin your trek to Everest and meet one of Disney’s greatest creations.

Pleasure Island Heats Up This Spring

It started with the opening of new stores like Tren-D and Disney Design-A-Tee early this year, and then guests were offered an amazing new experience earlier this month in the form of Characters in Flight, a hot air balloon ride taking off from the waterfront and hovering over Walt Disney World. Now, even more fun additions are being made to Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island, and they can leave no doubt that Walt Disney World is working hard to improve everyone’s favorite entertainment district in time for vacation season in Orlando, Florida.

First up, there’s no denying that the closing of Pleasure Island’s nightclubs has left a void in Downtown Disney. However, Disney is now filling at least some of that absence with a new nightly celebration that takes the parties that once existed inside the nightclubs and moves them right to the streets. “Celebrate Tonight!” is an energetic street party hosted by Disney DJs who will spin the latest and greatest of party hits. Perfect for anyone celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just having fun, this new celebration is themed to match with Disney’s What Will You Celebrate? promotion and invites everyone to celebrate along – no matter what the occasion.

As part of the fun, guests are invited to join in on popular group dances and participate in sing-alongs. There’ll also be stilt walkers and a party crew to get the crowd motivated and excited. “Celebrate Tonight!” will be held every night in the West End Plaza of Pleasure Island, with the party carrying on from 5 to 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays and 6 pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

And aside from a new party, spring will also see the opening of a new restaurant at Pleasure Island called Paradiso 37. This high energy restaurant and bar will arrive in early May and bring with it cuisine from North, South, and Central America for a true paradise.

Located lakeside across from the now closed 8TRAX, Paradiso 37 will offer a delectable variety of menu offerings representing the 37 countries of Americas. Guests will also be able to sample an international wine bar, 37 varieties of tequila, and ten tasty signature frozen margaritas. In addition, this lively new addition to Pleasure Island will offer nightly entertainment, serving up food, drinks, and music until late into the evening.

Paradiso 37 is coming to Downtown Disney from the Orlando-based E-Brands Restaurant Group, which also owns and operates Timpano Chophouse, Samba Room, Taqueria Canonita, Aquaknox, David Burke, Salsa Orlando, and Canonita Express.

With a new restaurant and street party, it looks like Pleasure Island, which has been somewhat shy of pleasure for quite a while now, is coming back to life just in time for the summer. Take it as your cue to plan your Walt Disney World vacation, which can include fun days at the parks and exciting nights at Downtown Disney. Book your Walt Disney World tickets now at DWTickets.com and you’ll have made step one towards a pleasurable Disney getaway.

Eat in the Wild at Animal Kingdom

Only at Walt Disney World can you get up close and personal with animals like zebras and lions at Animal Kingdom through attractions like the Kilimanjaro Safari and Habitat Habit! and the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. And soon, through a new dining option offered at the park, guests will have the opportunity to eat among the animals for a wild dining experience with an ambience no other restaurant can provide.

With Picnic in the Park, guests can turn any meal at Animal Kingdom into an adventure – and there’s no planning or sandwich-making required. All guests have to do is pre-order their picnic at a guest relations office or the Tusker House Restaurant in the Harambe Village in the Africa area. Guests can then come back to pick up their picnic at a time of their choosing (so long as it’s no earlier than two hours after the order is placed) at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery next to the Tusker House. Once they do, it’s time to chow down as guests can take their picnic to one of 14 designated picnic spots around the park.

Guests can choose from various picnic options, including rotisserie chicken or ham and sandwiches like Turkey Focaccia, Chicken Wrap, Ham Grinder, or Tuna Pita. The feast also comes complete with various side options, like chips, coleslaw, corn, green beans, mac & cheese, orza pasta, and various kinds of potatoes and salad dishes. Rounding off the wild meal are desserts like brownies, cookies, cornbread, crisped rice treats, and fruits.

Each picnic comes in a reusable bag with plates, utensils, and a map marked with the picnic locations, and guests can order their picnics for a minimum of three people and a maximum of six. Picnic orders have to be placed between the hours of the park opening and 1:30 pm; if you’re on a Disney dining plan, a Picnic in the Park can be used as a Quick Service Meal.

Since Animal Kingdom doesn’t have as many eateries as other parks in Walt Disney World, picnicking is a much needed and unique new option, in addition to being affordable – a picnic for three costs between $24.99 and $29.99, and a picnic for six costs between $48.99 and $56.99. And afterwards, guests can digest at a comfortable and fun indoor Animal Kingdom show like It’s Tough to Be a Bug! or Finding Nemo The Musical.

To go on an animal adventure and dine within the exotic environments of Animal Kingdom, check out Walt Disney World tickets today at DWTickets.com. Picnicking in the Park will definitely add a whole new level of fun to your Animal Kingdom visit, not to mention give you an extra burst of energy for seeing and experiencing the park.

Busch Gardens: 50 Years of Thrills

On March 31, 1959, August A. Busch Jr. officially dedicated Busch Gardens, which was, at that time, an admission-free hospitality facility for the nearby Anheuser-Busch manufacturing plant. Fifty years later, the manufacturing plant has long since closed, but the hospitality facility has developed into a bustling Tampa theme park filled with exhilarating roller coasters, beautiful landscapes, and exotic animal experiences.

To mark its successful history, the park has opened an incredible new historical exhibit next to the Clydesdale Hamlet. In the exhibit, guests can browse various displays featuring hundreds of memorabilia items and photographs marking every major event and attraction at the park over the past fifty years. Among them is a 100-foot memory wall featuring a photograph of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio taken the day she started work at the park’s Zagora Café, a photograph of the day dozens of couples got married as they rode Kumba, and opening day aerial photographs that show the abandoned Army airbase runways that today lurk hidden near Adventure Island.

The park put out a call among its staffers for people to bring in any memorabilia they had lying around, and employees responded in force. One accounting clerk brought in her old belly dancer costume from when she was a snake charmer at the park, while others brought in painted gremlins from the Gnome Village, which had been serving as doorstops in the corporate offices. Other items now on display were dug up from the park’s archives, including conceptual art of rides like Montu, which was initially planned to be a coaster built inside a giant Egyptian pyramid.

The search for memorabilia is still ongoing as the exhibit, which will be on display at least through the end of the year, expands; by this summer, it will include video anecdotes from park veterans and former executives.

The exhibit is certainly a valuable look at the history of a park that has grown to become one of Orlando’s most popular, with six roller coasters, 2,000 animals, and 3,000 employees running the operations. Among the attractions at the Africa-themed Busch Gardens Tampa are Sheikra, North America’s first dive coaster which sends riders 200 feet up, then 90 degrees straight down; Kumba, a breathtaking ride featuring a 135-foot drop, 360 degree spirals, and one of the world’s largest vertical loops; Montu, one of the tallest and longest inverted roller coasters in the world; Gwazi, a wooden coaster with two interwoven tracks; and the Scorpion, featuring a 60-foot drop and 360-degree loop at incredible speeds.

Busch Gardens also offers countless animal encounters, available in habitats like Serengeti Plain, featuring hundreds of exotic African animals; Myombe Reserve, a lush forest filled with gorillas and chimpanzees; the Bird Gardens, containing almost 500 tropical birds; and Lory Landing, a domed habitat showcasing a variety of brilliantly colored birds. These exciting habitats, along with shows, tours, and other experiences, ensure that Busch Gardens will be Florida favorite for yet another 50 years.

If you’ve never visited Busch Gardens, don’t wait until its next bicentennial; make some time to explore this beloved Tampa theme park during your next vacation, and save on your adventure by purchasing discount Busch Gardens tickets from DWTickets.com.

From a Room with a Who to a Tropical Evening at Universal Orlando Hotels

When planning a vacation to Orlando, Florida, it’s important to pick a hotel that offers more than just a place to rest your head. For the best vacation, you want a place that offers fun when the day at the park is over and a hotel room with unique extras that’ll make certain members of your family extra comfortable. And at Universal Orlando resorts, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Hotel have gone to extra lengths to make additions that do exactly both those things.

First, at the Loews Portofino Bay, the hotel recently debuted a new hotel suite with a Who – from Who-ville, that is. Little ones will go wild over the newly added Dr. Seuss kids’ suites, which offer a larger-than-life experience that integrates the characters from Seuss Landings at Islands of Adventure into the hotel.

The suites, which were unveiled late last month, capture the spirit of Seuss with a montage of wild characters, fun colors, and unique patterns. Colors, in particular, are everywhere – from the vibrant blue carpeting that’s sprinkled with a pattern of lighter blue dots to the beds, which feature Seussian figures inspired from the Horton Hears a Who book. The two-room suites offer plenty of space from traveling families, and parents will appreciate an added feature that only allows access from the children’s room into the adult’s room and not into the hallway.

Making the suites even more fun are special packages offered by the resort, which include accommodations in a Dr. Seuss Suite (three night minimum), a breakfast of green eggs and ham in Trattoria del Porto for two daily, a special children’s welcome amenity, a set of four Dr. Seuss books, a set of four mini Dr. Seuss themed plush characters, and a souvenir Cat in the Hat photo frame.

If adults staying in the suite find all the Seuss-ness a little overwhelming, they can escape for a night to the Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, where a new celebration will give adults an extra reason to look forward to the end of the week. On ‘Aloha Friday,’ it’s time to break out your favorite Hawaiian shirt or dress as the Wantilan Luau Pavilion becomes the host to a fun, tropical party. Guests will be able to enjoy tasty island cuisine from the resort and Emeril’s Tchoup Tchoup, along with tropical drinks, beer and wine, gourmet coffee, a lei greeting, and more.

And providing the sounds for Aloha Friday will be Volcano Joe and the Hot Lava Band, who’ll perform sounds by your favorite artists – including Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, UB40, and more. The party kicks off on Friday, April 17, at 6:30 pm, and tickets cost $25.

So if you’re looking for the perfect place to stay while you check out Universal Studios, consider the Loews resorts, which are great for kids and adults alike. Best yet, the resorts offer extra benefits for enjoying Universal Orlando, including express ride access just by showing your hotel room key card. Couple that with Universal Orlando tickets from DWTickets.com, and you have the makings of an Orlando vacation that will make everyone in the family happy.

Up, Up, and Away with Disney's Characters in Flight

Imagine being able to see all of Walt Disney World and beyond from high up in the sky, and you don’t even have to climb to the top of Cinderella’s Castle. That’s the experience now being offered with Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney, a new attraction that gives guests a bird’s eye view of Disney by taking them up in a giant tethered balloon. Guests will soar to new heights on this flight, which began taking riders up on Wednesday, April 1.

The giant yellow balloon, which is operated by Aerophile, reaches heights of 300 feet every ten minutes, depending on the weather. Decorated with airborne Disney characters such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and company, Dumbo, and Aladdin, it offers sweeping, 360-degree 10-mile panoramas of Lake Buena Vista and the surrounding environments, and it can even be seen from as far away as SeaWorld’s Sky Tower.

The balloon begins its ascent from the Downtown Disney West Side waterfront, carrying up to 30 guests at a time. Flights last six minutes long and can take place by day or night. At nighttime, the balloon lights up internally, a bright glowing orb as it hovers over Downtown Disney.

Adults can take the flight for $16, while kids ages 3 to 9 pay only $10, tax included. Tickets can be purchased at the new Characters in Flight Booth, formerly an Information Booth located near DisneyQuest.

Here are a few fun facts about the balloon – developed by Aerophile, the world leader in captive balloons, the Character in Flight orb is the newest and largest of the company’s models. It boasts a volume of 210,000 cubic feet, a 72-foot diameter, a circumference of 240 feet, and a height of 105 feet, and it lands on a platform designed especially for Downtown Disney.

A unique opportunity to experience some thrills and ascend to the skies over Walt Disney World, Characters in Flight is great fun for the whole family and a new way to make a day at Downtown Disney special. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the other new additions to the area, including TrenD, Disney Design-a-Tee, and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. And since it’s an excellent way to cap off an evening after visiting the other Disney parks, be sure to stop by Downtown Disney after enjoying Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll have more money to spend on fun at Downtown Disney, too, when you save on Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.